Difficult to dislike Geno Smith based on recent comments about Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks fans might have seen the end of Geno Smith. The quarterback knows that, too. Seattle could make a number of changes that overhaul the offensive side of the ball. This has already begun as offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was terminated a day after the season ended.

Smith has not been a bad quarterback for the team over the last three seasons, though some like to argue that point. His completion percentage has been too high, and his interception percentage too low (this season was his highest at 2.6, but that was tied with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, and lower than Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott) to say he is simply bad.

There are some who will point to Smith's past and say he isn't good, either. That isn't him simply as a football player. Smith had a fight with a teammate with the New York Jets nearly a decade ago that still colors how some view him. He has also been charged with DUI before. But let's be real: Almost all of us do not know Smith personally and, therefore, should not judge him.

If Geno Smith is leaving the Seattle Seahawks, he is going out the right way

We do have a right to judge Smith the player, though we should also temper that based on how well his offense is designed and how well his receivers run their routes. Of Smith's 15 interceptions this year, arguably seven were not his fault. Three might have been the fault of DK Metcalf who failed to run his routes crisply enough and allowed the defensive back to undercut him and pick off the pass.

Still, some players might have seen those 15 interceptions on their stat sheet and chose to blame others. Smith has never done that and has repeatedly said he is to blame for anything negative that happens. Sometimes, he takes ownership even when he does not need to. That is what leaders do.

Leaders also know when their time with an organization could be running short, and instead of throwing the franchise under the proverbial bus or saying some teammates were the reason the team was overall unsuccessful, the leader looks at the big picture and remains appreciative. This is Geno Smith.

After the Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 but failed to make the playoffs, Smith spoke with the media and gave an honest and completely respectful answer as far as the potential of the team moving forward.

Smith said, "I’m tellin' you, man. This team is heading in the right direction. That’s with or without me…I just want to continue fighting with these guys."

It is not easy to dislike a player who consistently speaks about how the team is more important than he is. Some players see themselves as bigger than the team. Geno Smith doesn't. Whether he stays with the Seahawks or the team releases him and saves $25 million, the quarterback should be someone to root for.